Wire-fence machine



2 Sheets-Sheet 1. J. B. MOKNIGHT 8v J. L. GARLAND. WIEE FENCE MACHINE.

.laltentedApr. 4, 1893.

(No Model.)

Wv'nsses @MM (No Model.) 2 Sheets-#Sheet 2 J. B. MGKNIGHT 8v J. L.GARLAND.

WIRE-FENCE MACHINE.

STATES ATENT OFFICE.

Jol-1N n. McKNIGI-IT AND .IoI-IN I.. GARLAND, ou oTwELL, INDIANA.

WIRE-FENCE MACHINE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 494,589, dated April 4,1893.

Application filed August l2, 1892. Serial No. 442.936. (No model.)

To all whom t may con/cern.-

Be it known that we, JOHN B. MOKNIGHT and JOHNL. GARLAND, citizens ofthe United States, residing at Otwell, in the county of Pike and Stateof Indiana, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Wire-Fence Machines; and we do declare the following to be a full, clear, andexact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilledin the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, referencebeing had to the accompanying drawings, and to the letters and gures ofreference marked thereon, which form a part of this specification.

Our invention relates to certain improvements in that class of fencebuilding machines which are adapted to twist two strands of wire, firstin one direction and then in another, suitable pickets being insertedbetween the strands after each twist, and it has for its object toprovide an improved mechanism therefor, for which purpose it consists inthe details of construction, arrangement and combination of the parts ofwhich it is composed, as will be hereinafter more fully described andclaimed.

Referring to the accompanying drawings in which corresponding part-s aredesignated by similar marks of reference:-

Figure l is a perspective view of a machine constructed in accordancewith this invention, as it is applied in building a fence. Fig. 2 is aside view of the machine proper. Fig. 3 is a horizontal section on lineriz-:1; of Fig. 2. Fig. 4 is a vertical longitudinal section on lineL/-y of Fig. 3.

The upright -1 has projecting rearwardly from its two opposite sides,the oppositely placed brackets 2, each of which has a circular aperture3 therein, in alignment with the corresponding aperture in the oppositebracket, a slot t extending rearwardlyin each bracket from the aperturetherein to its rear end, through which slots the Wire strands may beintroduced into the apertures.

It will be understood that although in the accompanying drawings we haveshown two sets of oppositely placed brackets in order to twist two linesof fence wires that the number of brackets and the hereinafter describedmechanism contained therein may be varied to correspond with the numberof lines of Wire that it may be desired to simultaneously twist. A bar 5is vertically mounted in the guides 6 projecting rearwardly from theupright l and extends along the rear face of the said upright, itpassing between the opposite brackets 2, contiguous to which teeth 7 areformed on the rear surface of the bar 5. A disk 8 having on the centralportion of its periphery gear teeth 9, has on each side ofthe said gearteeth a journal 10, which journals are contained in the bearings 3 ofopposite brackets 2, the gear teeth 9 engaging with the teeth 7 upon thebar 5. Two recesses ll are formed in each disk at diametrically oppositeportions of its periphery, the said recesses extending from side to sideof the disk and being adapted by a rotation thereof to be caused toregister with the slot 4 in the brackets, and it will be evident thatthis rotation of the disk maybe eifected by a reciprocating motion ofthe rack bar 5.

In order to provide a convenient means for actuating the rack bar, arms12 are 'pivoted to the opposite sides of the upright 1 and projectingforwardly therefrom have their upper ends pivoted to the central portionof the handle 13, the rear end of which is pivoted to the rack bar 5.The point of attachment of the handle to the rack bar is such that whenthe handle is horizontal the diameter connecting the recesses 1l in thedisks are vertical as shown in Fig. 2, so that a quarter revolution inopposite directions is necessary to bring the opposite recesses inalignment with the slots 4. A iiat spring 14 has its opposite endsattached to the handle by pins 15 and attached or sunk into the uprightto normally hold the handle by its resistance against bending, in ahorizontal, position and prevent the untwisting of the strands that mayhave previously been twisted.

The operation of my invention is as follows: Two posts A having beenerected on the line of the proposed fence at a suitable distance apart,two strands of wire B, B for each line wire of the fence are drawn tautbetween them and fastened, and as the operations of twisting the strandsof each of the lines of wire are similar and are carried onsimultaneously, it will only be necessary to describe the operation oftwisting one of them. For this purpose, the disk 8 corresponding to thatIOO line of wire, is rotated until one of the recesses l1 thereinregisters with the slot 4 inthe brackets,through which slot one of thestrands of wire B is slipped into the recess and the disk rotated in areverse direction until the opposite recess is in alignment with theslot, when the wire B' is correspondingly placed therein. A slat C isthen placed between the two strands B and B and the disks rotated in areverse direction through another half revolution, when another slat Cis introduced, it being evident that this may be continued until thepanel of the fence between the two posts is completed, the twisting ofthe strands taking up any slack that may have previously existedtherein.

I-Iavingthus described ourinvention and in what manner the same is to beused, whatwe claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the UnitedStates, is-

1. The combination with an upright having rearwardly projecting bracketsthereon, the said brackets being apertured and slotted, of a disk havinggear teeth upon the central portion of its periphery and having ajournal on each side thereof'contained in the said apertures, the saiddisk being provided With peripheral recesses, an upright rack barmovably mounted in the rear of the said upright and engaging with thegear teeth upon the disk, a pivoted handle for actuating the said rod,and a flat spring having its opposite ends attached to the said handleand upright respectively, substantially as described.

2. The combination with an upright having rearwardly projecting bracketsthereon, the said brackets being apertured and slotted, of a disk havinggear teeth upon the central portion of its periphery and having ajournal on each side thereof contained in the said apertures, the saiddisk being provided with peripheral recesses, an upright rack barmovably mounted in the rear of the said upright and engaging with thegear teeth upon the disk, an arm having its rear end pivoted to the saidupright, a handle having its central portion pivoted to the forward endof the said arm and its rear portion pivoted to the said rack bar, and aflat spring havingits opposite ends attached to the 'said handle andupright respectively, substantially as described.

` In testimony whereof we affix oursignatures in presence of twowitnesses.

JOHN B. MCKNLGHI. JOHN L. GARLAND. Witnesses:

THOMAS EDMoNDsoN, GEORGE G. CRAIG.

